Chapter 181
On our way downstairs we find Betty with Elder Ye and the Fox Spirit Alice.
"Are you all coming to cheer our disciples on? There’s Karl plus one more in Group A fighting today. I think we’ve got some Alchemists in Group A too, but I’m in Group B."
"We thought we’d go watch the fights. Alice was interested to see Uncle Karl fight, and she says she’s got some ideas for him." Betty informs me in a proud voice. I can see that Karl and Alice are both very into whatever topic they are talking about. It’s a mental communication, but they’re both using large, expressive gestures to get their points across and smiling. That can’t bode well for whoever Karl is fighting.
It is decided that we will grab breakfast from one of the many food carts set up near the fighting rings, so we all head out early, escorted by one of the local girls. she’s got a nasty scar across her neck and chest that prevents her from speaking, but her sign language is in the American fashion, which fortunately enough, the Lycan Packs use for silent communications when working with multiple packs, so I’m reasonably fluent. Having more than one pack present during an operation is a pain, in that they can’t all mind link, but sign language gets the point across from a distance without alerting the targets.
She’s rather startled at first that I understand, but she is more than happy to accompany us for the day, and she has a sweet tooth just as strong as Betty’s, which leads us to a stall serving French toast and egg sandwiches dripping with syrup, then dusted with icing sugar. Every pre teens ideal breakfast.
"You’re still going to be able to fight right? Not going to go into a sugar coma?" I tease Karl as he takes a large bite of his third sandwich.
"Fighting is hungry work, I’m just getting a head start on the recharging." He logic makes the girls laugh, and soon enough we’re at the entrance for competitors and Elders.
"Alright, good luck. I’ll be watching from the stands, since they prohibited cheerleaders after the incident with the Forbidden Treasure Sect." I assure Karl, pointing towards the spot where Elder Song had saved us seats.
"How are the Shadowed Blade’s chances looking this year? We’ve got five of the disciples in Condensation posing as Inner Disciples this time, right?" I ask as we get seated.
The Shadowed Blade usually sends outer disciples for the Inner Disciple competition, and nobody for the Outer, it helps mask our strength, and with the End of Fortification being the Outer Disciple cutoff, we really don’t have anyone to send who is a full disciple. Sometimes they’ll send promising recruits from the courtyard, as they call the outermost area where the uninducted live.
Maybe now that we’re officially becoming a Grey Sect that will change and we won’t have a third rank, other than the cultivators being trained as staff for the nobles. I voice my thoughts to Elders Song and Ye, making them both fall into deep contemplation. Calling the Acolytes Outer Disciples isn’t really a big thing, it’s how the light Sects do it. But moving Outer to being called the Inner Sect leaves us with a nameless force of powerful specialists who used to be the Inner Sect. Which isn’t entirely a bad thing for assassins.
"We could call the Inner Sect the Core Disciples, just a rebranding in a way that would slip past casual scrutiny should anyone question it." I suggest in a whisper that I’m certain only the two immortals and a few of our fellow Shadowed Blade disciples who are next to us can hear.